ROBERT HAZARD - TROUBADOUR TOUR 2007
The NBC 10 Show Philadelphia - TROUBADOUR TOUR 2007 Pre Release Thursday October 11, 2007
ROBERT HAZARD - TROUBADOUR TOUR 2008
Last Club Performance - Friday July 18, 2008
The Auction House - Audubon, New Jersey
IN MEMORY OF ROBERT HAZARD 1948 - 2008
BLOOD ON MY HANDS
Camp Jam 2007 - Thursday August 9, 2007
Medford Lakes, New Jersey
Video credit: AUGUSTUS FILMS, Philadelphia,Pennsylvania
www.myspace.com/augustusfilms
THE HOOTERS TRIBUTE TO ROBERT HAZARD - ESCALATOR OF LIFE
SHOT AT THE BORGOTA – THE MUSIC BOX - ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY
SATURDAY AUGUST 30TH 2008
Tommy Conwell’s tribute to Robert Hazard - Loves on Fire
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"Robert Hazard, a Friend to the Artist in Us All"
Please make donations in his memory to the Old Forge Arts Center
Robert's favored concern.
Thank you for your support on behalf of Robert Hazard, Old Forge, NY Artist.
With kindest appreciation,
Susan Hazard
Contact: Deborah Jones
Arts Center Old Forge New York
3260 State Route 28
PO Box 1144
Old Forge, New York 13420
Tel: (315) 369.6411
E-Mail: info@artscenteroldforge.org
Web Page: http://www.artscenteroldforge.org
Influences
Special Thank You to:
J. R. STANTON for His many years of Hard Work, Dedication, Loyalty, Friendship and Performing his never ending duty as The Commanderinchief
MICHELLE REIDER for Show Support, Graphics Layout, Banner Design and Unconditional Friendship
ANDREW ORTH of ANDREW ORTH PHOTOGRAPHY for Official Photography
Graphics, Photography & Web Design:
ANTHONY PICA of GRAY THOUGHT GRAPHICS & WEB DESIGN
A Very Special Thank You to:
MICHAEL TEARSON formerly of WMMR, Philadelphia now of SIRUS SATELLITE RADIO for his many years of continued support and Friendship
GINA HANF for providing Official Photography of The Annual CAMP JAM held in Elmer, New Jersey
Sounds Like
Compared by critics to the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, John Mellencamp John Hiatt and Tom Petty.
The new album, Troubadour, out now.
Click to buy it at Amazon or ..
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“Hazard’s new music establishes him as a poetic, sometimes autobiographical songwriter and a soulful singer. His music still rocks at times, but his blues and country influences are more obvious.” – Newark Star-Ledger
The dark Americana vibe of Robert Hazard’s "Troubadour" may come as a surprise to those who know him as the hit songwriter of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” (which, by the way, was written in fifteen minutes, in a bathtub - on an acoustic guitar,) but those who value first-rate musicianship, insightful songwriting and straight-from-the-heart singing will greet the album like an old friend.
The Philadelphia-born Hazard’s love and knowledge of folk, blues and other American roots styles shines through on his Rykodisc debut, an album that breathes the life of a man who has lived; filled with rich characters and poetic storytelling, inspired by the rustic beauty of his adopted home in the Adirondack Mountains.
The album features drummer Steve Holley (McCartney’s Wings, Joe Cocker, Dar Williams, Elton John) and multi-instrumentalist T-Bone Wolk (Carly Simon, SNL Band, Hall & Oates). Hazard enlisted the team of Pete Heitzman & Karen Savoca (Greg Brown) to helm the production efforts that give the album a classic folk sound with an urgent presence.
“Nobody But the Night” resonates with chiming electric guitar, a driving rhythm and Hazard’s emotional vocal, finely balanced between anguish and hope. “It’s about being alone and knowing you’ve got to be yourself, no matter what,” Hazard says. “Everybody’s been in that place at least once in their life.”
The Cajun stomp of “A Whole Lot of Water” is the tale of an island boy who moves to the big city. T-Bone Wolk contributes Celtic accordion fills giving the song an international flavor. “Blood On My Hands,” one of the album’s most dramatic tracks, is built around Hazard’s larger-than-life acoustic guitar. It’s the song a condemned murderer sings on the night before he dies, trying to come to terms with what he’s done. Hazard sings with a weary resignation that captures the apprehension of the condemned man. “Troubadour” is a tribute to the singers who inspired Hazard’s musical journey. The song salutes Eric Andersen, whom Hazard considers the ultimate troubadour -- and Andersen surfaces here to contribute harmony vocals and harmonica fills. “Somebody Else’s Dream” is an upbeat blues sprinkled with surreal images of a world gone mad.
Two love songs, “I Still Believe In You” and “To Be With You,” give the album its heart. The former is a slow, sexy tango, a celebration of the ups and downs of a long-term relationship, while the latter blazes with the heat of first love.
Hazard recalls, “My older sister Gloria turned me on to Elvis, Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins and other hillbilly cats. The music just knocked me out. At 10, I was playing guitar ‘cause I thought it was cool, but I got sidetracked by writing songs.”
“Rockabilly led me to folk, blues and what we call roots music today. I was playing in coffee houses and writing songs in high school, hanging out in folk clubs and soaking up gigs by Jimmy Webb, Eric Andersen and Jackson Browne. (The fact that Eric Andersen played on the title track is a real thrill.) A guy named Jerry Ricks gave me guitar lessons and taught me about the delta blues and Robert Johnson.”
Back when the new wave era hit, Hazard formed Robert Hazard and The Heroes. Having gained a huge following in his hometown of Philadelphia, RCA reissued their self-released EP resulting in MTV hits and tours opening for heavyweights U2 and Bob Dylan.
“The royalties from ‘Girls’ allowed me to survive. In the ‘90s I had a band called The Hombres, but we never recorded.” In 1998 Hazard cut Howl, the project that began to tap into his singer/songwriter soul. He started writing with a newfound conviction and the stories began to just pour out. “I woke up and started writing, going back to the folk and blues that originally inspired me. I decided to go back to what I love to do: me with an acoustic guitar.” In 2004 Hazard hooked up with T-Bone Wolk for his first singer/songwriter album, The Seventh Lake. Later in 2004 he cut Blue Mountain. “I made that for about $1.98,” Hazard jokes. “Everything was one take. The songs were written, I laid ‘em down and it was done.”
With Troubadour, Robert Hazard’s adventurous musical journey comes full circle --back to his original inspirations. “Songwriting is an emotional process. Getting to the place where the words and music came pouring out honestly is what I call success.”
A new year arrives, with the wonderment of just what would have come if you still walked among us. You are missed but living within your songs which we can play and treasure at our will. We can feel your soul in every note and still see the stroke of every chord. That twinkle in your eyes and that smirk still fresh in our minds hinting at what was to come. We miss you, but thank you for the years you gave us and the music that lives on.
I make sure to turn your music up, real loud and sing along with you. You will NEVER be forgotten and I keep you with me everyday. My Love goes out to your family, and I can hear ya loud and clear! I sure miss ya, Love, Kat
Look at that guitar - leanin against the wall Without you home to play it – it ain’t no instrument at all Look at your dusty boots - sittin there on the floor But your lucky hat’s not on the hook I guess you took it with you – it’s the one you always wore
Goodbye lucky hat - Goodbye my old friend It’s so damn hard to admit that All great journeys must end You left behind your music You left behind your rhymes You left me your songs to sing Memories of good times Till we meet again Goodbye lucky hat – Goodbye friend
Sittin on the lake – Drivin along the shore You were always dreamin – searchin for something more Bluebird on the wire – Butterfly out at sea Underneath that lucky hat Fishin for your feelings – you inspired me
Goodbye, Lucky Hat…
The other night I had a dream – you were on a stage Standing in the brightest light I’d ever see You cocked your head and tipped your hat And flashed that crooked smile You wished me luck and told me “Buddy, it might be a while.” Till we meet again… Until then…
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